Activist Songs

misterseth · 09-30-2010, 07:20 AM

Sorry to state the obvious here in most cases, but these are tracks that I've been coming back to my whole life.

1. Public Enemy's Fight the Power
2. Public Enemy's entire It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back album
3. Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On?
4. Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin'
5. Neil Young's Southern Man
6. Stereolab's Wow and Flutter

jackhammer · 09-30-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayvan Cowboy

i don't really listen to music that has any message or anything.
yep, i'm lame.

Personal lyrics in songs may enhance how I'm feeling but I'm with you apart from I don't consider myself lame for being this way

When I listen to music I am altruistic and anything that comes after that is a bonus/hindrance.

Husky McDump · 10-05-2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Propagandhi - Purina Hall Of Fame

Going see Propagandhi today. Some of the best humans on the earth. Stand for everything they make music about.

VEGANGELICA · 10-13-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emsanders

Going see Propagandhi today. Some of the best humans on the earth. Stand for everything they make music about.

How was the concert, Emsanders?

Zaqarbal · 10-28-2010, 06:47 PM

One of the "classics". Absolutely essential, We Shall Overcome by Joan Baez:

♫ "In a world designed by the men in grey... (...) Here comes Alex!" ♫ Remember? The Return of Alex (or Hier kommt Alex in German), by Die Toten Hosen:

(Just in case anyone doesn't know: Alex is an allusion to A Clockwork Orange's main character)

Have you ever thought about subservient people living a "subsonic life" in these "subsonic times"? Perhaps someone like you and me, as Sexy Sadie sang:

fooruky · 10-29-2010, 12:10 AM

Take no Prisoners - Megadeth
Hook in Mouth - Megadeth
No one Left - The Nightwatchman
Wake Up - RATM
War Within a Breath - RATM
Pledge Your Allegiance - Suicidal Tendencies

Tor_Hershman · 10-29-2010, 11:39 AM

Pete Seeger's version of
"What Did You Learn In School Today (Dear little boy, of mine)"
check it at YouTube

We newbies can't post links.

VEGANGELICA · 03-27-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tor_Hershman

Pete Seeger's version of
"What Did You Learn In School Today (Dear little boy, of mine)"
check it at YouTube

We newbies can't post links.

I'm a little late in replying, but I did listen to Pete Seeger's version of "What Did You Learn In School Today (Dear little boy of mine)" and *loved* the irony in the song, plus the way it starts out innocuous and turns horrifying as one realizes all the propaganda and pro-violence lessons the child is being taught:

I should really listen to more Pete Seeger songs, because I'd probably like their message even if I don't particularly like the sound of the music. My favorite line in the song above is when the boy says he learned "that murderers die for their crimes, even if we make a mistake sometimes."

Another activist song I learned about today, thanks to a post by Moshe http://www.musicbanter.com/country-f...ml#post1023664, is "Donna Donna," with an English version sung by Joan Baez.

Joan Baez apparently said that when she performed in a government-televised concert in Communist Czechoslovakia in 1989, with police all over the place, she and dissidents she had invited started to sing the encore together, and when the microphones were cut off as they began to sing "Donna Donna" the police were too embarrassed to do their job and intervene, which she viewed as an important moment and victory. She was able to sing the entire protest song about yearning for and gaining freedom all the way to the end.

I couldn't help but notice that this song could also double as a good animal rights song, although I doubt it was intended as such!

Quote:

from the 'Donna Donna' lyrics:

On a wagon, bound for market,
There's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him, there's a swallow,
Winging swiftly through the sky.

Stop complaining said the farmer,
Who told you a calf to be?
Why can't you have wings to fly with,
Like the swallow, so proud and free?

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
Oh, why can't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow you've learned to fly

More lyrics: Donovan Lyrics

Howard the Duck · 03-28-2011, 12:06 AM

Bob Dylan's Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll had the most effect on me

or Fairport Convention's cover of Percy's Song

captaincaptain · 03-30-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

I'm a little late in replying, but I did listen to Pete Seeger's version of "What Did You Learn In School Today (Dear little boy of mine)" and *loved* the irony in the song, plus the way it starts out innocuous and turns horrifying as one realizes all the propaganda and pro-violence lessons the child is being taught:

I should really listen to more Pete Seeger songs, because I'd probably like their message even if I don't particularly like the sound of the music. My favorite line in the song above is when the boy says he learned "that murderers die for their crimes, even if we make a mistake sometimes."

Pete Seeger is great! One of the most unappreciated artists of our time. He still cuts albums and he'll be 92 soon. Although Bruce Springsteen has output has been overrated for the past 20+ years, his album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions had some great covers of Seeger's songs.

10-28-2010, 06:47 PM	#25 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	One of the "classics". Absolutely essential, We Shall Overcome by Joan Baez: ♫ "In a world designed by the men in grey... (...) Here comes Alex!" ♫ Remember? The Return of Alex (or Hier kommt Alex in German), by Die Toten Hosen: (Just in case anyone doesn't know: Alex is an allusion to A Clockwork Orange's main character) Have you ever thought about subservient people living a "subsonic life" in these "subsonic times"? Perhaps someone like you and me, as Sexy Sadie sang: __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 10-28-2010 at 10:27 PM. Reason: minor grammar correction

10-29-2010, 12:10 AM	#26 (permalink)
fooruky Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 21	Take no Prisoners - Megadeth Hook in Mouth - Megadeth No one Left - The Nightwatchman Wake Up - RATM War Within a Breath - RATM Pledge Your Allegiance - Suicidal Tendencies __________________ Jimmy Page - David Gilmour - Dave Mustaine

10-29-2010, 11:39 AM	#27 (permalink)
Tor_Hershman Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 20	Pete Seeger's version of "What Did You Learn In School Today (Dear little boy, of mine)" check it at YouTube We newbies can't post links. __________________ Advertizing removed by moderator What advertizing? It was ONLY a link to my Blogspot blog and moi ain't sellin' a thing there.

09-30-2010, 07:20 AM	#21 (permalink)
misterseth Groupie Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London, UK Posts: 2	Sorry to state the obvious here in most cases, but these are tracks that I've been coming back to my whole life. 1. Public Enemy's Fight the Power 2. Public Enemy's entire It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back album 3. Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On? 4. Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin' 5. Neil Young's Southern Man 6. Stereolab's Wow and Flutter

03-28-2011, 12:06 AM	#29 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	Bob Dylan's Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll had the most effect on me or Fairport Convention's cover of Percy's Song